Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced an alleged “institutional rupture” to remove him from power and again accused the Prosecutor’s Office of wanting to investigate him, for which he asked the population for a popular mobilization in his support.
Petro pointed out that “there is a serious constitutional breach when the Prosecutor’s Office investigates the president of the republic,” according to an extensive message published on the social network X.
«They have decided to break the institution. As president of the republic, I must notify the world of the mafia takeover of the Prosecutor’s Office and I must ask the people for maximum popular mobilization for decency,” said the president.
This is not the first time that Petro talks about wanting to remove him from the Presidency, as he already did so on several occasions last month, such as when he commented on a judicial record that the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court of Justice made at the headquarters of the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (Fecode) in Bogotá.
That raid was carried out as part of an investigation into the alleged illegal financing of Petro’s presidential campaign.
The investigation is based on the alleged contribution of some $127,000 that that union made to Petro’s campaign and that was not reported to the electoral authority, as required by law.
In that sense, Petro assured this Friday that “unions have been raided, torture has been used and pressure has been used on witnesses to accuse the president and they have not been successful.”
“Drug trafficking sectors, perpetrators of crimes against humanity, corrupt politicians and corrupt sectors of the Prosecutor’s Office are desperately seeking the removal of the president from the position elected by the people,” he added.
The Senate calls for restraint
In this regard, the president of the Senate, Iván Name Vásquez, expressed his surprise “at the statement of the President of the Republic suggesting a call for civil confrontation.”
“All expressions and complaints in relation to the interpretations of judicial or political events that are recorded in our country are valid and necessary within our democratic system,” Name said in a message on his X account.
However, the senator clarified, “the answer cannot be the call for the breakdown of institutions as a mechanism to resolve our conflicts. “Any challenge to our democratic institutions must be repudiated within the framework of the Constitution and the law.”
Confrontation with the prosecutor
President Gustavo Petro’s statements come in the midst of a strong political confrontation with the attorney general, Francisco Barbosa, in which they frequently accuse each other of violating the law.
The dispute has an ideological background because Barbosa, close to former President Iván Duque (2018-2022), is accused by his critics of putting the Prosecutor’s Office at the service of political interests to persecute people related to the Government while turning a blind eye to cases that They involve right-wing politicians.
On the other hand, there are those who consider that Petro, who will celebrate two years in power in August, seeks to interfere in the independence of the Judiciary since his own son, the first-born Nicolás Petro Burgos, is being investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office for money laundering and enrichment. illicit, crimes that dot his presidential campaign.
In this regard, the president stated that the Prosecutor’s Office will request his “impeachment without hiding that he has carried out an unconstitutional investigation against me seeking the victory that the people did not grant them.”
«A progressive president, the first in a century, cannot be overthrown here, because legally a workers union contributed to a left-wing party. The time has come for popular expression,” concluded Petro.
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What are the implications of President Gustavo Petro’s allegations of a coup on Colombia‘s political stability?
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. María López on President Gustavo Petro’s Recent Remarks**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. López. Recently, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned what he describes as an “institutional rupture” orchestrated by the Prosecutor’s Office aimed at removing him from power. Can you explain the context behind these allegations?
**Dr. López:** Absolutely. President Petro’s comments are rooted in an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s Office concerning alleged illegal financing of his presidential campaign. Specifically, there are claims that the Colombian Federation of Education Workers contributed about $127,000 to his campaign without proper reporting to electoral authorities, which in turn has led to accusations of improper conduct [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
**Interviewer:** Petro has called for popular mobilization in response to the investigation. What do you think this means for the political climate in Colombia?
**Dr. López:** By calling for mobilization, Petro is appealing directly to his supporters, framing the investigation as not just a legal matter but an attack on democracy itself. He argues that there is a “mafia takeover” within the Prosecutor’s Office, suggesting that this is more about political machinations than judicial integrity [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)]. This rhetoric could lead to heightened tensions and possible civil unrest, especially if his calls are taken up by a significant portion of the population.
**Interviewer:** The president of the Senate, Iván Name Vásquez, expressed surprise at Petro’s call for mobilization. How do you see the Senate’s role in this situation?
**Dr. López:** The Senate’s reaction is crucial. It reflects the division within Colombian politics regarding how to handle dissent and accusations against the government. Name’s call for restraint suggests a concern that Petro’s rhetoric might incite conflict rather than facilitate a democratic discussion of the issues at hand. It’s a delicate balance: while citizen expression is necessary, the potential for escalating tensions is also very real [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
**Interviewer:** Lastly, how do you think this situation will evolve in the coming months?
**Dr. López:** The situation will likely remain volatile. If the investigation continues and new accusations arise, we may see more aggressive responses from both supporters and opponents of Petro. Equally, if the public perceives the investigation as politically motivated, it could strengthen Petro’s base. Ultimately, how both the government and the judiciary handle this matter will be pivotal in shaping Colombia’s political landscape moving forward [[1](https://popularresistance.org/president-petro-denounces-attempt-of-institutional-rupture-and-coup-in-colombia/)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. López, for your insights on this unfolding situation. It will be interesting to see how it develops.
